Protesters clashed with the police in West Bengal’s Kolkata on Sunday during demonstrations against the state government restricting the offering of namaz on streets and demolishing allegedly illegal structures in the Tiljala area, according to media reports.The demonstration was held at Park Circus’s seven-point junction, reported The Indian Express.Kolkata Police’s Additional Commissioner Ashesh Biswas described this as an “illegal gathering”, according to PTI. He said some of the protesters threw stones at the police as they attempted to disperse the crowd.“Three of our colleagues were injured,” added Biswas. “We have already arrested a few people.”He did not specify how many persons had been arrested.VIDEO | Kolkata, West Bengal: Violence erupted during an anti-encroachment protest at Park Circus after a section of protesters allegedly began stone-pelting at police personnel opposing a bulldozer drive against alleged illegal encroachments. Several police personnel were… pic.twitter.com/PLVwAOTXeI— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 17, 2026
On Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state directed the police to ensure roads are not blocked due to prayer congregations, except on special occasions, reported The Times of India.Following the order, tensions had erupted in Kolkata’s Rajabazar area on Friday when a group tried to offer namaz on the road, according to The Indian Express. A large number of police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel were deployed in the area.Meanwhile, the state government had also ordered bulldozer action against allegedly illegal structures in Tiljala after a fire in one of the factories killed two persons on Tuesday.On Thursday, the Calcutta High Court restrained further demolition in the area, reported Live Law.During the demonstration against the state government’s actions on Friday, protesters attempted to block roads, according to The Indian Express.The police lathi-charged the crowd to disperse them, further triggering tensions. Several vehicles parked along the road, including those carrying central forces, were vandalised, PTI quoted the police as stating.It added that a large number of personnel of the Kolkata Police and the central forces were deployed in the area following the clashes.
